Counter-box



(No Model.)

W. H. STACY.

COUNTER BOX. No. 364,316. Patented June 7, 1887;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM lEhSTAOY} OF WAYNESVILLE, OHIO.

COUNTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,316, dated June 7, 1887,

Application filed February 23, 1887. Serial No. 228,504. (No model.)

- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. STACY, a citizen of the United States,residing atIVaynesville, in the county of WVarrcn and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Counter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The ordinary method of handling nails and other small but heavy articles bythe retail dealer is attended with considerable in convenience and discomfort. -Attempts have been made to provide counter-boxes which would readily discharge their contents, and thus obviate the necessity of removing such articles by hand from the kegs or other receptacles in which they are stored; but, owing to the cost of manufacture or otherobjection, none of these counter-boxes appears to have come into general use.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and economical counter-box, from which the contents can be readily discharged with.- out being handled by the dealer.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a series of my improved counter-boxes arranged under a counter or shelf; Fig. 2, a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing in:- dotted lines the box in position for discharging its contents.

A is a shelf or counter; a a, partitions under the counter, between which the counterboxes may be placed; and c a, slats, hereinafter called rails, secured to the partitions, and serving as seats for the boxes when in po sition, and as rails upon which the boxes may be slid in and out of position. The partitions are illustrated as extending to the shelf, but will answer the purposeifextended sufficiently above the rails a to serve as guides for the boxes.

B is a counter-box having sides 0 c, with their lower extremities rounded in front, so as to form rockers c c, and front piece, (I, inclining inward toward the bottom. I

The box, having been filled, is placed upon the rails a and slid into position. \Vhen any portion of the contents is to be removed, the box is tilted forward until the sloping front is sufficiently inclined to allow the nails orother contents to drop out. The box is pro vided with a suitable handle, a, for eonvenience in tipping. In order to limit the space over which the discharge may take place, the front of the box is provided with converging stay-pieces d d. The rockers are provided at suitable points with notches c 0, adapted to take over the corners of the rails a a. In stead of a single notch adapted to engage with the corner of the rail, the rocker may be provided with one or more notches adapted to engage with corresponding projections upon the bearing-rail. These notches afford a temporary bearing for the box when tilted, and allow it to be tipped to any desired extent or shaken to facilitate the discharge of the contents withoutslippingfromits bearings. When the desired portion of the contents has been removed, the weight of the remaining portion tends to return it to its normal position by force of gravity. The box may be conveniently filled by removing it from the rails and placing the front against one of the partitions to prevent its tipping.

It is obvious that a curved rail may be sub- 'stitut-ed for a straight one, the lower end of the box being correspondingly changed and the notch being placed in the curved surface.

I claim 1. A tilting counter-box having thelower ends of its sides curved in front to form a rocking surface, in combination with rails adapted to serve as bearings for said box, said rocking surface being notched to engage said rails, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with bearing-rails, the herein-described counter-box provided with a sloping front, and having the lower ends of its sides curved in front to form rocking surfaces, said rocking surfaces being notched to engage said rails, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. A tilting counter-box having front piece, d, converging stay-pieces cl, and rockers 0, provided with notches 0 in combination with bearingrails a, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

IVILLIAM H. STACY.

Witnesses:

MAHLON RIDGE, ELLTAH COMPTON. 

